Freiburg protesters demand urgent funding for psychotherapist training delays
Around 400 people took to the streets of Freiburg on May 7, 2026, to demand better funding for psychotherapist training. The protest was part of a nationwide campaign highlighting delays in state support promised by a 2020 reform. Demonstrators warned that without action, mental health care shortages could deepen further. The march began at Platz der Alten Synagoge before winding through Europaplatz and past Bertoldsbrunnen. It concluded in the city centre with speeches and a musical performance. Organisers from the Conference of Psychology Student Associations and the Forum of Psychotherapists in Training led the event.
The protest stemmed from the 2020 reform of Germany’s Psychotherapists Act, which pledged state-funded training but has yet to materialise. Many trainees now face uncertainty over finishing their qualifications, with some institutions at risk of closure due to financial strain. Representatives from the Baden-Württemberg State Chamber of Psychotherapists joined the call for urgent funding. Protesters stressed that the lack of qualified professionals would extend therapy waiting times. They argued that without immediate investment, the mental health system could face severe staffing shortages in the coming years.
The demonstration in Freiburg added to growing pressure on policymakers to fulfil the 2020 reform’s promises. Training institutions continue to struggle financially, leaving future psychotherapists in limbo. Without funding, organisers warn, access to mental health care will only deteriorate.
